Inauguration

The Inauguration The Pomp and Circumstance, Ceremony, Oath of Office, & Speech The Inauguration    Occurs at the Capitol Building Until Ronald Reagan, it happened at the East Terrace It is the peaceful transfer of power • Pomp & circumstance and pageantry • What did you see? • What did you hear?   VIPs Others? The Inauguration  Formulaic • Morning worship service • Procession to the Capitol • Swearing in of the Vice President • Swearing in of the President • Inaugural Address • Inaugural Luncheon • Inaugural Parade • Inaugural Ball The Inauguration  Deviations are common, individual touches • Clergy chosen for invocation and benediction • Poetry reading • Musical selections The Inauguration  No set protocol for the swearing in of the Vice President • Except he (or she) is first The Inauguration  Presidential swearing in: • 35 word oath—Article II, Section I of the Constitution  HOWEVER, Amendment 20 of the Constitution states that at 12 noon, whether or not the oath has been taken, the president-elect officially becomes the President of the United States • So help me God is not required, although often said. • Hail to the Chief is played • 21-gun salute • The nuclear code The Inauguration  Checklist: • Bible • Biblical Passages (optional) • Music • Musicians • Poet (optional) • List of clergy to attend (minimum of 3) The Inauguration  The Speech • There have been few great inaugural speeches—4 in total • Lincoln’s two • FDR’s first • JFK’s  Some scholars would argue that Jefferson’s first and Wilson’s second were among great inaugural speeches The Inauguration  The Speech (cont.) • Not expected to be specific about legislative or administrative proposals • Not expected to sound like a campaign speech. • Encouraged to keep it around 12 minutes   Washington’s 135 words Harrison’s 8,445 words (2 hours) The Inauguration  The Speech (cont.) • Style should be individual    Don’t try to clone past presidents Don’t worry about applause lines The audience is millions of people in the US and abroad, not the supporters who elected them • Tone should be individual—rhetorically speaking • Theme should reflect why elected and what was promised to accomplish as president Obama’s Inauguration  Lincoln Bible (1861) • Lincoln theme continues  Senator Feinstein, MC • • • • • World is watching Peaceful transition of power Founders and fighters Freedom to choose is the root of liberty Ballot over the bullet   Justice and equality Marched and died to make it a reality • Real and necessary change Obama’s Inauguration  Pastor Rick Warren, Invocation • United by commitment to freedom and justice for all—not by race, blood, etc • Civility in attitudes even when we differ • All—nation and its people—are accountable    Aretha Franklin Swearing in of Vice President Biden by Associate Supreme Justice Stevens Musical interlude Obama’s Inauguration  Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office for President Obama • What happened?      President Obama’s Inaugural Speech Poet Elizabeth Alexander Benediction National Anthem Presidential Party Exit President Obama’s Inaugural Speech Accountability and Responsibility Obama’s Inaugural Speech       What did you hear? What will he do? What direction will this country take? What are his primary priorities? What are his secondary priorities? What differences are there between the administration that just left and the administration that just came? Obama’s Inaugural Speech     Humbled at the task Grateful for the public’s trust Mindful of sacrifices Thank you to former President Bush • Service • Generosity • Cooperation   History of prosperity and peace History of clouds and storms • Carried on because faithful to the ideals of fore bearers and founding documents Obama’s Inaugural Speech  A time of crisis • War—network of hate • Economy—greed and irresponsibility • Healthcare • Schools • Energy • Confidence of the American people  Challenges are real, serious and in time, will be met. Obama’s Inaugural Speech  We have chosen • Hope over fear • Unity over discord • Finished with strangled politics • Set aside childish things • All are equal, free and deserve a chance at happiness Obama’s Inaugural Speech  Greatness is earned, not a gift • Hard word    Risk takers Doers Those who have struggled and sacrificed for all • • • • Immigrants Slaves Workers Soldiers Obama’s Inaugural Speech  Starting today: • Begin the work of remaking America • Economy    New jobs Growth Infrastructure • Science • Healthcare • Energy • Schools, colleges, universities  New age Obama’s Inaugural Speech  The issue isn’t whether government is too big or too small, but whether it works • It’s a new day • The ground has shifted • The system can handle large scale change • New focus on accountability   Sunset programs that don’t work Invest in program that do work Obama’s Inaugural Speech  Market • Must be watched  Defense • Reject the dichotomy of safety vs ideals • It is about the rule of law and the rights of man  We will not give them up • A friend to all nations • We are ready to lead once more • We will defeat those who seek to destroy us Obama’s Inaugural Speech  Patchwork heritage • Religion • Language • Culture • Old hatreds must pass    Muslim world treated with mutual understanding and respect Poor nations Plentiful nations Obama’s Inaugural Speech  Spirit of service • It’s bigger than each of us • Must inhabit us all • Nation relies on it    Challenges are new How we meet them are new Values are the same • Loyalty, patriotism, etc Obama’s Inaugural Speech  New era of responsibility • All have it • Price of citizenship • With rights come responsibilities Two Different Administrations Two Different Foci Op Ed by Bob Woodward Denver Post, Sunday, 1/18/09 “Learning from Bush’s Mistakes”  Presidents set the tone  The president must insist that everyone speak out loud in front of others  A president must master the fundamental ideas and concepts behind his (her) policies Op Ed by Bob Woodward Denver Post, Sunday, 1/18/09 “Learning from Bush’s Mistakes” (cont.)  Presidents need to make sure bad news makes it to the Oval Office  Presidents need to foster a culture of skepticism and doubt  Presidents get contradictory data and they need a rigorous way to sort it out Op Ed by Bob Woodward Denver Post, Sunday, 1/18/09 “Learning from Bush’s Mistakes” (cont.)  Presidents must tell the hard truth to the public  Presidents must insist on strategic thinking  Presidents must embrace transparency  Righteous motives are not enough for effective policy Policy Outline Blueprint for Change  Economy  Fiscal Discipline  Ethics  Healthcare  Seniors  Education • K-12 • Higher Education          Energy Rural America Women Immigration Poverty Service Civil Rights National Security Veterans Current Events At 12:00 pm (mst).  Obama announced a pay freeze for highest paid White House staff members  Executive Orders for lobbyists • Accountability/transparency • No gifts to anybody in administration  Finance/security team—major transformation with how business is conducted Current Events At 12:00 pm (mst).  Signed order halting trials of war criminals at Guantanamo Bay  Reviewed economic stimulus with finance team  Congress is working on confirmations